If you’re in the market for a new gaming computer and you want to go with a prebuilt system, in this guide, we’ve compared nine of the best prebuilt gaming PCs at various price-points to help you find the right option for your budget.
In my opinion, you’re always going to get more bang for your buck if you build your own system (at least, in normal market circumstances when there isn’t a massive GPU shorage) than you will if you buy a prebuilt gaming PC.
And, if you are willing to take on the task of building a PC yourself, I recommend checking out our affordable PC build guide, or our high-end PC build guide for recommendations on part lists at various budgets.
However, if you’re not up for building your system and you just want to get a prebuilt gaming PC to save you the time and hassle of choosing components and assembling them, in this guide, we’ve rated a handful of different options you have at a variety of price points.
So, whether you’re shopping for extreme prebuilt gaming PCs that have high-end graphics cards in them, or for budget-friendly options that will allow you to play your favorite games with ease, there should be a system below that will work for you.
All of these options can be found for sale on Amazon, but if you want a more customized system than the options listed below, check out our guide on the Best Custom PC Builders or click the link for “Custom PCs” on the entries below.
Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs
A Quick Look at the Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs
As a quick-look view at four of our top picks for the best prebuilt gaming PCs, we’ve made selections for the best extreme system, the best high-end option, the best value option, the best budget-friendly gaming PC, and the best small form-factor option.
| | NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTREME |  | CUK Continuum Micro |
| /10 | |
| HIGH-END |  | CUK Mantis |
| /10 | |
| VALUE |  | ZOTAC Gaming MEK |
| /10 | |
| BUDGET |  | Thermaltake LCGS Glacier |
| /10 | |
| MINI |  | MSI Trident X |
| /10 |
*For more information on the gaming PCs above, click the “Read Review »” link and you will skip to our overview of that PC. To see our Honorable Mention picks, keep scrolling down.
1. CUK Continuum Micro Gaming PC
Best extreme prebuilt gaming PC
- Intel Core i9-12900KF
- NVIDIA RTX 3090
- 64GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
If you have an extreme budget and you want to get a gaming computer that can handle anything you throw at it, you might want to check out CUK’s Continuum Micro Gamer PC desktop. It comes with a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB GPU as well as a 12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900KF sixteen-core CPU. It also sports 64GB of DDR4 memory, a 1TB SSD, a 3TB hard drive, and an 850-watt 80 PLUS Gold power supply.
The CUK Continuum also comes with Windows 11 Home edition, an AIO cooler, plenty of RGB lights, and a tempered glass case. And, the company includes an RGB keyboard and mouse with this system, too.
In terms of performance, the 3090 and i9-12900KF combination are good enough to jump into 4K gaming or to push games on a 1440P 240Hz+ gaming monitor. If you’re just looking to play games on a 1080P monitor, though, you could easily get away with spending a lot less as even the budget-friendly ZOTAC Gaming MEK or Thermaltake LCGS Glacier i3510 desktop listed below should be able to max out most games at 1080P resolution.
Ultimately, though, this RTX 3090 gaming desktop from CUK is one of only a few prebuilt gaming PCs that comes with both an RTX 3090 graphics card and an Intel Core i9-12900KF processor. It’s an extreme option for anyone who wants the ultimate PC gaming experience.
If you want to build a gaming PC that will offer similar performance to this pre-built desktop, check out our $2,000 Gaming PC Build. For a more mobile option, check out our guide on the best RTX 3080 laptops.
2. CUK Mantis Gaming Desktop
A high-end prebuilt gaming PC
- Intel Core i9-12900KF
- NVIDIA RTX 3080
- 64GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
If you want to save a little bit of money and still be able to play games on a higher resolution monitor (like a 4K gaming monitor) or even on a 360Hz monitor, the CUK Mantis desktop should also get the job done for you.
The CUK Mantis comes with the following core components: a 12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900KF processor, an RTX 3080 10GB GPU, and 64GB of DDR4 memory. While the Mantis doesn’t come with a higher-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPU like the CUK Continuum listed above, the RTX 3080 that it does come with will still be powerful enough to game at 1440P or 4K with higher framerates.
And, the Mantis comes in at a significantly lower price than the Continuum (~$700 difference).
This system also comes with Windows 11 Home Edition, a 1TB SSD & 2TB HDD storage combination, an AIO cooler, and an RGB keyboard & mouse combo as well.
Ultimately, if you’re shopping for the best gaming PCs for ~$3,000, this RTX 3080 desktop PC definitely an option you’ll want to consider.
For a comparable PC build, check out our $1,750 PC build. To see our recommendations for similarly-priced gaming laptops, check out our guide on the best RTX 3070 laptops.
3. ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G1
Best prebuilt gaming desktop under $1,500
- Intel Core i7-11700KF
- NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
For our best value option, we chose the ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G1 because of the hardware it comes with and the price it comes in at. For just a little over $1,100 you get a PC that has the following components: an Intel Core i7-11700KF processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 12GB GPU, and 16GB of DDR4 memory. That combination is good enough to be able to jump into 4K gaming as well as max out anything on a 1080P monitor.
This system also comes with a 1TB SSD, a 700-watt power supply, and a mid tower tempered glass case that has a full-length PSU shroud in it.
Ultimately, if you don’t want to pay over $1,200 on a new gaming computer, the ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G1 offers a nice balance between price and performance. This system will still be able to max out anything you throw at it with no problems.
In terms of benchmark performance, you should be able to expect an everage framerate of over 60 FPS in AAA titles on a 1440P monitor and much better results on a standard 1080P display. This makes it one of the best gaming PCs for gamers that have a moderate budget. It will handle popular titles like Minecraft, World of Warcraft, Fortnite, League of Legends, and Valorant with no problems.
You can check out our $1,000 Gaming PC Build for a DIY option that will perform similarly. Or, if you’re considering a laptop as well, our guide on the best RTX 3060 laptops will help you find some similarly priced options.
4. Thermaltake LCGS Glacier i3510
Budget-friendly prebuilt gaming PC
- Intel Core i5-10400F
- NVIDIA RTX 3050
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
If you’re looking for the best affordable prebuilt gaming PC, for just under $850 you can land the fairly powerful Thermaltake LCGS Glacier i3510. The iThermaltake LCGS Glacier i3510 comes with an Intel Core i5-10400F CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 16GB of DDR4 memory, a 600-watt power supply, and a 1TB SSD.
This system is by no means capable of running games at 4K, but for 1080P gaming, this system will be able to max out pretty much anything you throw at it. And, because it has an NVIDIA GPU in it, you can pair it with an affordable 144Hz monitor with G-Sync for an ultra smooth in-game experience.
The system also comes with RGB lights, a nice-looking case that has a transparent side panel, and a free mouse and keyboard.
Overall, for the price that this system comes in at and the performance it is able to deliver, it is one of the best gaming PCs for budget-oriented PC gamers. It will allow you to max out non-demanding titles like Apex Legends, Minecraft, World of Warcraft, etc. and will also work great running titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Assassin’s Creed.
If you’re willing to build your own system, you can check out our $1,000 gaming PC build for a similar performing DIY option.
5. MSI MEG Trident Mini
Best mini prebuilt gaming desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
The MSI MEG Trident might be a better fit for you if you want to get a small form-factor gaming PC. This mini gaming desktop comes with the following components: an Intel Core i7-12700KF CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 1TB SSD.
So, despite its smaller size, it is still able to fit a powerful RTX 3070 Ti inside of it. And, it also features a 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700KF processor. The combination of the 12700KF CPU and the 3070 Ti GPU will be good enough to max out any game on a 1440P monitor and will also allow you to play most games on a 4K display on higher settings with a solid average framerate.
Also Read: Intel K vs KF: What’s the Difference?
The MSI MEG Trident does come in at ~$2,500, though, so if you don’t need a compact system, I’d recommend saving some money and choosing another RTX 3070 Ti or RTX 3080 desktop—as you can find them a bit cheaper in traditional form-factor options.
However, if you like the smaller form factor that the MSI Trident X comes with, then this is one of the best gaming PCs out there right now.
6. Skytech Prism II Gaming PC
Honorable mention #1
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- NVIDIA RTX 3090
- 32GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
At right at ~$4,000, the Skytech Prism II is a bit more affordable than to our extreme pick, the CUK Continuum.
Like the CUK Continuum, Skytech’s Prism II desktop comes with extreme hardware (including its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPU). However, the Skytech Prism II opts for a slightly weaker AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, instead of the Intel Core i9-12900KF that comes in the CUK Continuum.
While both processors are excellent options, the Intel Core i9-12900KF will offer better performance overall. However, for purely gaming purposes, the two CPUs will perform similarly. So, if your main concern is gaming, you could opt for the slightly cheaper Skytech Prism II instead and save some money.
Just like with the CUK Continuum, you’ll want to pair this system with a G-Sync monitor for an incredibly smooth in-game experience. In terms of storage, the Prism II does come with the same size SSD (1TB) as the Contiuum.
Also Read: Is NVIDIA’s G-Sync Technology Worth It?
It also comes with 32GB of memory, a 360mm AIO CPU cooler, a cube-style case with tempered glass side panels and RGB lighting, a free keyboard and mouse, and an 850-watt 80 Plus Gold power supply.
The bottom line is that, both the Skytech Prism II and the CUK Continuum are excellent prebuilt gaming PCs. However, if you want to save ~$700 and you don’t mind sacrificing a little bit of CPU performance, then this desktop from Skytech is probably the best option for you. If you need the extra CPU performance, then the CUK Continuum would be your best bet.
7. HP Omen Gaming PC
Honorable mention #2
- Intel Core i9-10850K
- NVIDIA RTX 3080
- 32GB of DDR4 RAM
- 1TB Solid State Drive
Another high-end option that won’t quite cost as much as the CUK Continuum listed above, is this HP Omen gaming desktop.
This HP Omen system doesn’t have the newest generation processor in it, but it does contain the both a powerful 10th generation CPU (i9-10850K) and an extreme NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card.
That CPU-GPU combination will be powerful enough to run any game you throw at it on max settings with no problems, whether you’re playing on a 4K monitor or a 1440P 144Hz+ display.
This system also comes with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 850-watt power supply.
Ultimately, though, while this system won’t quite match the performance of our top two prebuilt gaming PCs (the CUK Continuum and the CUK Mantis) it will still offer extreme gaming performance for quite a bit lower of a price.
8. iBUYPOWER Pro
Honorable mention #3
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- AMD RX 5500 XT
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 240GB Solid State Drive
Next, we have the iBUYPOWER Pro. The iBUYPOWER Pro is another budget-friendly pre-built desktop PC. So, if you want another option to consider alongside the ZOTAC Gaming MEK or Thermaltake LCGS Glacier, this one fits the bill.
The iBUYPOWER Pro comes with these components: an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, an AMD RX 5500 XT graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and a 240GB SSD. It also sports a secondary 1TB hard drive, four RGB fans, a solid mid-tower case with a transparent side panel and a PSU shroud, and a free iBuyPower gaming keyboard and mouse combination.
Also Read: 8GB vs 16GB of RAM: How Much Should You Get?
In terms of gaming performance, the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU and the RX 5500 XT GPU should be powerful enough to handle any game on a budget-friendly 1080P monitor, or, even on a higher resolution 1440P monitor.
Ultimately, though, either the Thermaltake LCGS Glacier or the iBUYPOWER Pro are worthy prebuilt gaming PCs to consider if you’re looking for a cheap desktop that can handle any game you throw at it. If you’re just looking to play at 1080P resolution, both options will work well.
9. ZOTAC Mek Mini Gaming PC
Honorable mention #4
- Intel Core i7-9700
- NVIDIA RTX 3070
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 512GB Solid State Drive
If you want to get a mini gaming PC, but you don’t want to spend over $2,000 on the MSI Trident X, then the ZOTAC Mek Mini might be a better option for you.
It won’t offer nearly as much performance as the MSI Trident X, but with an Intel Core i7-9700 CPU, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU, and 16GB of memory, it will anything you throw at it with no problems.
It also comes with a 512GB SSD and a 2TB hard drive—so, you will have plenty of storage space to house all of your favorite games. And, the system includes a 240mm AIO cooler, a free keyboard and mouse, and a 1000W Gold-certified power supply.
And, it costs nearly ~$900 less than the MSI Trident X, too. Of course, though, for the same price you can get the ZOTAC Gaming MEK (non-mini), which, while it isn’t a mini desktop, it has a better CPU and GPU.
In the end, though, if you’re set on getting a compact desktop, but you don’t want to spend the amount it will take to get the MSI Trident X, the ZOTAC Mek Mini gaming desktop is probably the next best option for you.
Should You Get A Prebuilt Gaming PC? Or, Build A PC?
There will always be a case to be made for choosing to build a PC over buying a prebuilt system. However, not everyone wants to go through the process of building their own computer. And, if you want a prebuilt gaming PC that can be shipped to you and up and running as quickly as possible, then one of the desktops listed above is probably the best option for you.
In this guide, we’ve given you seven of the best prebuilt gaming PCs at various price points to choose between and, depending on your budget and needs, one of them should help you jump into the world of high-end PC gaming. All of the options above contain mid-range-to-extreme CPUs and graphics cards and even the cheapest options will be good enough to deliver you an ideal PC gaming experience.
NVIDIA RTX 30 series is not 100% compatible with VR (no airlink). Just wanted to point that out. I think I’ll be passing on most of these unfortunately.
Hi, so everytime I tried to find the computers, it seemed to glitch out and not let me see it. I’m looking for a cheap computer around at most 500-600 dollars at most, that is great for its budget. Now, I looked at the HP Omen Gaming PC, and I can’t find the original name. Can someone help me with that? And also, I would like to have around maybe if I’m lucky max settings on about a Asus VZ249HEG1R 23.8 Full HD Gaming Monitor, and I want to know if anyone else knows maybe a good computer for that? I’m a professional gamer, not like an intermediate, but I have never had the chance to get off a ps4. But I am getting into the big leagues, and I’m sick of the 60 frames per second. With this HP Omen Gaming PC, I’m also curious how much frames I would get on average? For example, Fortnite, or Minecraft, or some game that requires a lot of rendering and things. Thanks for all the people who help, I hope. I’m just saying this as I post it so I don’t really know! Anyways, hope you all have a great day.
My son is wanting a gaming PC and I am on a tight budget. What do you recommend to start with?
Buy an Optiplex with intergrated graphics, it costs around 350 to get one with 16 gb of ram and a 2tb hdd. I got a PC like that and added an R7 240 to the build and it runs pretty decent, but be warned that it’s small form factor.
This should be corrected in your review . The SkyTech Omega Gaming Computer PC Desktop is NOT a 2080 TI but rather a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8G